Monitoring the Reactivity of Formamide on Amorphous SiO2 by In-Situ UV-Raman Spectroscopy and DFT Modeling

Formamide has been recognized in the literature as a key species in the formation of the complex molecules of life, such as nucleobases. Furthermore, several studies reported the impact of mineral phases as catalysts for its decomposition/polymerization processes, increasing the conversion and also favoring the formation of specific products. Despite the progresses in the field, in situ studies on these mineral-catalyzed processes are missing. In this work, we present an in situ UV-Raman characterization of the chemical evolution of formamide over amorphous SiO2 samples, selected as a prototype of silicate minerals. The experiments were carried out after reaction of formamide at 160 °C on amorphous SiO2 (Aerosil OX50) either pristine or pre-calcined at 450 °C, to remove a large fraction of surface silanol groups. Our measurements, interpreted on the basis of density functional B3LYP-D3 calculations, allow to assign the spectra bands in terms of specific complex organic molecules, namely, diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN), 5-aminoimidazole (AI), and purine, showing the role of the mineral surface on the formation of relevant prebiotic molecules

A Hybrid Evaluation Approach for Designing Complex Urban Scenarios: Application for the T.I.T. Area (China)

This paper illustrates a long-term research that aims at proposing a multi-dimensional and multi-level integrated approach for supporting strategic planning and design in the domain of urban projects. The proposed framework is based on the combined use of different tools for designing complex urban transformation processes, following the subsequent phases for the definition of the projects, from very general transformation scenarios to a more detailed preliminary project. The multi-methodological approach is organized according to subsequent steps, including SWOT analysis, stakeholders analysis and Multicriteria Analysis, taking into account both the methodology of the Analytic Hierarchy Process and the Multi Attribute Value Theory. The evaluation is applied to a real-world decision problem related to the further on-going transformations in a former industrial area in Guangzhou (China) that has been recently regenerated as the T.I.T. Creative Zone

Probing zeolites by vibrational spectroscopies

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